Clinically vulnerable staff in schools

[Watsername]

I am a TA with asthma and am currently working from home as per the government advice for clinically vulnerable staff in schools.

Is anyone else in the same position? Is the advice going to change? When should we return? What's everyone else thinking?

We have our more vulnerable staff wearing masks in our school as social distancing isn't possible.

I think you will have to be prepared to return to work in September. I have a sneaking suspicion that what it takes to be covid secure will have been seriously cutback by then so that shielding school staff can return.

I am definitely expecting to be back in September. Just weighing up the last few weeks of term....

I don't think you should be under obligation to go to work before the pause/end of shielding.

Fedup21

I think it will boil down to vulnerable staff having to leave their job if they don’t feel able to return.

Nice. Nothing like a bit of discrimination

I am a “vulnerable” teacher. GP has told me not to panic but I should be particularly rigorous about social distancing.

This is fine for now as my HT has told any vulnerable staff they should continue to work from home, even though I must say the current arrangements at school seem very well-thought through. I’m apprehensive about September though - SD will simply not be possible and we’ll need everyone in.

Not everyone with Asthma needs to shield, only if you are on a certain type of medication and/or steroids.

I think it's everyone back to work 1 Aug ??

I'm a teacher and our head has kept all of the staff that come under clinically vulnerable at home ( I teach secondary) I'm still teaching from home and have made resources for next year for our department. I have asthma and bronchiectasis. I'm glad I'm home at the moment as my chest is really bad and I've been put on steroids again and they drain my energy!

pomegranate I'm not shielding. The government advice for clinically vulnerable staff (different to clinically extremely vulnerable aka shielding) in school was to work from home where possible.

Clinically vulnerable staff are still out at our school with no expectation they will return until September - unless we get short staffed. I’d like to think that’s unlikely at this time of year & with a small-ish number of children, but who knows?

I work in a GP surgery and, like you, I am vulnerable but not in the shielding group. I have gone back to work this week after working at home since late March.
My understanding is that you can go back now with the proviso of just trying to be as Covid-safe as possible. I know it is not possible to be absolutely safe but we cannot all stay at home forever

OP I'm in the same situation. Primary TA asthmatic & diabetic. My head was very sympathetic but said she wanted me to work from home (along with a few colleagues). My son also has a long term lung condition.
I've popped in to collect items to work with, preparing resources etc for the new term.
I've felt uncertain about when to return- unless there is another peak it was suggested that September would be best. This seems so far off, and I'll be stir crazy by then.

@Watsername

Yes, head teacher told me no.

Are you in a union? Is so seek union advice on that one. You should be allowed PPE should you wish to have it

I'm clinically vulnerable and also teach in a school. I have an autoimmune inflammatory arthritis and take medication with affects my immunity too. I was originally told I may need to shield but then told not, but to to the stringent SD measures. Our GPS used a three point system where 3 was shielding and 0 was no extra risk at all. I was point 2.

Although a qualified teacher I am employed as a hita. My normal job when school is back to normal is covering lessons and PPA, but how that would work in the bubble system I've no idea.

And tbh once all children are back that bubble system is nonsense anyway. The school can't function with staggered starts, breaks and lunches, and no moving round the corridors. It's too cramped a building. Once all children are back, bubble or not, the bubbles will essentially be burst as it simply isn't possible to keep them apart.

I'm fortunate at present as I don't have to go back yet, so have time on my side. We only have Kw and vulnerable children back so those of us who are at home are sorting home learning provision.

Come September we will have to see what actually happens.

My consultant has said to call him for a chat as I wanted to know the best way forward;

• return as normal and risk becoming very ill if I contract Covid (had pneumonia a decade ago before the health issues started and was really ill, taking months to recover so know things can assume it would be worse potentially)

• return but stop taking the specific medication, but risk long term damage to joints and possible disability in later life